LAHORE – Blow to Pakistan’s wrestling preparations for Asian Games as star wrestler Inam Butt pulls out of the event after a positive doping test.
Butt was not scheduled to compete as a wrestler at the Games but was expected to travel with Pakistan’s contingent as a coach. His withdrawal comes amid an ongoing case linked to a prohibited substance reportedly detected in a sample collected during the Asian Beach Games in China in April.
The case, however, is far from settled. World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is currently reviewing Butt’s explanation, medical records and supporting evidence before deciding whether any action should be taken against him.
Butt reportedly maintained that he never knowingly used a performance-enhancing substance. Sources familiar with his case said he had been undergoing treatment for an eye-related condition and was taking medication prescribed by his doctors before the competition.
Butt reportedly submitted details of the medication, medical scans and doctors’ prescriptions to WADA. Sources further claimed that he had previously obtained permission to use the medication for a period of one year. For now, there is no suspension or ban against Butt. Any decision on disciplinary proceedings will depend on WADA’s assessment of the medical evidence and the circumstances surrounding the test.
His withdrawal also forced a change in Pakistan’s coaching setup. Arshad Sattar will now travel with the wrestling squad and perform both coaching and managerial duties.
Pakistan is set to field four wrestlers at the Asian Games. Muhammad Abdullah will compete in the 65kg category, Inayatullah will enter the 74kg competition, Nauman Zaka will represent Pakistan in the 86kg division, while Muhammad Gulzar will compete in the 97kg category.
The national wrestling team is already preparing at its Islamabad training camp, with Usman Shahid and Azhar Hussain supervising the squad’s preparations.
The team is scheduled to leave for Japan on September 27, while the wrestling competitions are set to begin on October 3.
For the unversed, positive doping test means an athlete’s sample detected a substance that is prohibited under anti-doping rules. However, this does not necessarily mean athletes like Inam intentionally used performance-enhancing drug or will automatically be banned.
Inam is given opportunity to explain how the substance entered their system, including providing medical records or prescriptions if it came from legitimate treatment. The relevant anti-doping authority then reviews the evidence before deciding whether the athlete should face any punishment. In Inam Butt’s case, WADA is still reviewing his explanation and medical documents, so no suspension or ban has been announced yet.
